This website is intended to facilitate a first encounter with the works of John Milton, especially Paradise Lost, whether at sixth form, at university, or in private study. There are a lot of very good Milton resources available online, but many of these sites are aimed at a scholarly readership which has already undergone years of academic training. Our aim has been to discuss this challenging epic with an accessibility that will enable those new to Milton to familiarize themselves with the poet, his work and his themes, but without patronizing the reader or shying away from more difficult ideas. There is a variety of resources on offer for the teacher or student of Paradise Lost to explore: a plot summary, character descriptions, essays with suggestions for further reading, a biography of the poet, a gallery of illustrations and video content from major critics. 

Darkness Visible was composed by members of Christ's College, Cambridge, where Milton studied from 1625 to 1632. It was first commissioned as part of the college's year-long celebration of the poet's 400th birthday, 9 December 2008. It was redesigned in 2024 to celebrate the 350th anniversary of Milton's death (we never stop celebrating Milton at Christ's) and is envisaged as an ongoing project to bring Milton to more people. Most of the writers of Darkness Visible are current or former students who themselves have recently trodden the path of initiation into Milton's world. We wish you success in your journey.